BBC World Service Launches ‘Inheritance: Samsung’ Podcast Exploring Corporate Dynasty and Political Scandal
the BBC World Service is pulling back the curtain on one of the world’s most influential business empires. Its upcoming podcast, Inheritance: Samsung, promises a dramatic deep dive into succession battles, political intrigue, and the high-stakes power struggles that shape global business.
Launching on 23 March 2026, the 10-episode investigative series opens a brand-new franchise titled Inheritance, designed to examine family dynasties that dominate international corporations. The first season centers on Samsung, the South Korean technology giant whose story intertwines with national identity, economic growth, and political scandal.
With themes of wealth, loyalty, corruption, and legacy, this series is already generating global buzz — and it hasn’t even premiered yet.
Long before smartphones and semiconductors defined its brand, Samsung began as a modest trading company in 1938, founded by Lee Byung-chul. What started as a small fruit and vegetable store eventually transformed into a multi-billion-dollar conglomerate spanning electronics, shipbuilding, insurance, construction, and more.
Over decades, Samsung became more than a company — it evolved into a pillar of South Korea’s economic miracle.
The Lee Family’s Influence
At the center of this transformation stands the powerful Lee family, often described as the architects of Samsung’s dominance. Their leadership shaped not only corporate strategy but also influenced the trajectory of South Korea’s economy.
For many South Koreans, Samsung’s stability has symbolized national strength. The company accounts for a significant portion of the country’s GDP and exports, embedding it deeply into the nation’s financial infrastructure.
But as Inheritance: Samsung explores, with power comes tension — especially when leadership succession is at stake.
When a Heart Attack Shook a Corporate Empire
The turning point in the podcast’s narrative arrives when the company’s chairman suffers a sudden heart attack. The health crisis sparks uncertainty at the top — and reignites long-simmering succession disputes within the ruling family.
What follows is a saga filled with:
Corporate maneuvering
Allegations of bribery
Political entanglements
Internal family rivalries
Legal battles that captured global headlines
The struggle for control did not remain confined to boardrooms. It spilled into national politics and ultimately contributed to one of South Korea’s most dramatic presidential downfalls.
The series connects the dots between corporate succession and political scandal, illustrating how deeply intertwined business and governance can become in powerful economies.
From Boardrooms to Presidential Scandal
4
One of the most compelling arcs of the podcast details how succession tensions within Samsung escalated into a political scandal that reverberated throughout South Korea.
Mass protests filled the streets of Seoul as allegations of bribery and influence-peddling surfaced. The controversy ultimately played a role in the impeachment of a sitting South Korean president — a historic moment that reshaped the country’s political landscape.
Through interviews, archival reporting, and insider analysis, the podcast reconstructs how corporate ambition and political power collided.
Hosted by a Global Voice in Journalism
Leading the storytelling is Elise Hu, former Seoul bureau chief for NPR and current host of TED Talks Daily.
Hu brings firsthand regional expertise and investigative credibility to the series. Having reported extensively from South Korea, she guides listeners through complex financial and political dynamics with clarity and depth.
In her own words, the story contains:
Bribery
Romance
Theme parks
Show horses
Power plays worthy of a political thriller
Yet everything explored in the series is grounded in documented events.
Hu describes the narrative as “almost too far-fetched to believe” — except that every twist is real.
Expert Voices Add Depth and Credibility
The podcast features contributions from respected journalists and analysts, including:
Geoffrey Cain, author of Samsung Rising
Jake Kwon, BBC correspondent
Jaeyeon Lee, investigative reporter
Dr Sojin Lim, expert in Korean studies
Their insights contextualize Samsung’s rise within broader themes:
Chaebol dominance
Corporate governance in Asia
Intergenerational wealth transfer
Global capitalism’s vulnerabilities
This combination of narrative storytelling and expert analysis positions the podcast as both compelling entertainment and serious journalism.
A New Podcast Franchise Focused on Global Dynasties
Inheritance: Samsung marks the beginning of a larger investigative project by BBC World Service.
Commissioning editor Jon Manel explains that the new series aims to spotlight remarkable family-run corporations that have expanded beyond anything their founders imagined.
Future seasons will reportedly explore other international business dynasties, signaling a long-term editorial investment in stories where wealth, family, and power intersect.
A second season has already been commissioned — an indicator of strong internal confidence in the concept.
Release Date, Listening Platforms and Global Access
Listeners can mark their calendars:
23 March 2026 – First two episodes drop
New episodes released weekly thereafter
UK audiences can access the full box set via BBC Sounds
International listeners can stream via BBC.com
Weekly radio broadcast begins 28 March on BBC World Service
This multi-platform release strategy ensures accessibility across digital and traditional radio audiences — a smart move in today’s fragmented media landscape.
Why This Story Matters in 2026
The timing of this series feels deliberate.
Across the globe, questions about corporate accountability, inherited wealth, and political influence are dominating headlines. From Silicon Valley succession debates to European family conglomerates restructuring leadership, the future of dynastic capitalism remains a pressing issue.
Samsung’s story serves as a case study in:
The risks of concentrated power
The fragility of corporate governance
The political ripple effects of business decisions
The personal costs of dynastic ambition
By revisiting this high-profile succession drama, BBC World Service taps into a broader cultural conversation about transparency, ethics, and generational wealth.
Google Discover Angle: Human Drama Behind Global Power
For audiences browsing Google Discover, stories that blend human conflict with global stakes often outperform traditional business reporting.
Inheritance: Samsung offers:
Real-life family drama
Political scandal
Billion-dollar stakes
International intrigue
Emotional storytelling
The podcast transforms what could be a dry corporate history into a binge-worthy narrative.
The Bigger Picture: Business as Modern Royalty
The Lee family’s control over Samsung mirrors the structure of historic monarchies — inherited power passed down generations, fortified by loyal insiders and protected by complex systems.
Yet unlike royal families, corporate dynasties operate within global markets and political systems. Their decisions affect supply chains, employment, stock markets, and national GDP.
That intersection of private family conflict and public economic consequence is what gives this podcast universal relevance.
What Listeners Can Expect Across Ten Episodes
While full episode details remain under wraps, the structure reportedly includes:
Samsung’s humble beginnings
Rapid industrial expansion
The consolidation of family control
Succession planning challenges
The chairman’s health crisis
Legal investigations
Political fallout
Public protests
Courtroom drama
The long-term consequences
Each episode builds toward understanding how a single family’s internal tensions reshaped national politics.
Early Buzz and Anticipation
Media analysts expect the podcast to perform strongly for several reasons:
Global interest in Korean business and culture
Growing appetite for investigative podcasts
Proven audience trust in BBC journalism
Compelling mix of scandal and strategy
With K-dramas and Korean pop culture already enjoying worldwide popularity, this real-life corporate saga adds another dimension to international fascination with South Korea.
Final Thoughts: A Must-Listen for 2026
Inheritance: Samsung is more than a corporate biography. It’s a narrative about ambition, loyalty, morality, and the price of power.
By blending investigative journalism with dramatic storytelling, BBC World Service positions this podcast as essential listening for anyone interested in business, politics, or modern dynasties.
As the first season prepares to launch, one thing is clear: the story of Samsung’s succession battle continues to resonate far beyond South Korea.
